With the approach of the 18 October 2008 ACT Legislative Assembly election, the ACT Electoral Commission has reminded parties, candidates and interest groups that published electoral material must contain an authorisation statement naming the person responsible.

“Amendments to the ACT’s Electoral Act, which came into effect in May, require that any electoral material in printed, emailed or Internet form should include the name of the person who authorised the electoral matter,” the ACT Electoral Commissioner Phil Green said today.

Electoral matter published for or on behalf of registered political parties or candidates for an election should also include the name of the party or candidate in the authorisation statement.

The penalty for failure to include an authorisation is a fine of up to $1,000.

“The authorisation requirements are intended to ensure that material that might influence voters is clearly labelled with the name of the person responsible for publishing it. This is aimed at preventing irresponsibility through anonymity,”
Mr Green said.

There are some exemptions to the authorisation requirements. For example, campaign novelties such as T-shirts, buttons, badges, pens, pencils or balloons do not need to be authorised.

More details on the authorisation requirements are available at www.elections.act.gov.au

Phillip Green
Electoral Commissioner